Pirin National Park

Pirin National Park

 Pirin National Park is a
World Heritage national
park that encompasses
the larger part of the
Pirin mountains in the
southwest of Bulgaria. It
has an area of 274 km2
(106 sq mi) and lies at an
Vihren, the highest summit altitude from 1,008–
of Pirin, is located within the 2,914 m (3,307–9,560 ft).
park
 Pirin National Park
 Vihren National Park was created
on 8 November 1962 with the
purpose of preservation of the
forests in the highest parts of the
mountain. The park had an area
of 62 km2 (24 sq mi), which is a
small part of its modern territory.
It was renamed to Pirin People's
Park in 1974 with a ministerial
decree and its territory was
considerably enlarged.
 Protected Animals
in Pirin National Park
Fauna
A huge number of animal species are preserved in the
park, a cause of the relief diversity and southerly location.

About 2090 species and subspecies of invertebrate are to

be seen in the park, among them 300 rare species, 214
endemic and 175 relicts, as well as 15 that were included in
 Protected Animals
in Pirin National Park

 A total of 6 fish species inhabit the park, which constitute 6% of

the whole freshwater fish species of Bulgaria, whereas 8
amphibian and 11 reptile species live within the protected area.
Two of the fish, varione Leuciscus souffia and Balkan trout, are
also relict species.
 Protected Animals
in Pirin National Park
 The number of bird species that can be
seen in the park is particularly large-about
160, 40% of all bird species in Bulgaria.
 Species of birds are spotted eagle, golden
eagle, lesser spotted eagle, short-toed eagle,
capercaillie booted eagle, capercaillie, hazel grouse,
eagle owl, black woodpecker, three-toed
woodpecker, Alpine chough, saker Falco,
levant sparrow hawk, wallcreeper;

hazel grouse
 spotted eagle golden eagle

lesser spotted eagle booted eagle short-toed

 black Alpine chough
woodpecker eagle owl
wallcreepe
r

three-toed levant sparrow

woodpecker hawk
saker Falco
 Protected Animals
in Pirin National Park
 There are 45 terrestrial mammals
(including 12 bat species) that inhabit the
Pirin National Park, which is 50% of the
total number in the country. Among them
are the wild goat, and the brown bear.

wild goat brown bear

 Protected Animals
in Pirin National Park
Mammal species include
- brown bear grey wolf
- jackal pine martin
- rock martin polecat
- badger otter
- wild cat wild boar
- red deer roe deer red deer
- Balkan chamois the greater mouse-eared bat
- longeared bat Greek tortoise

polecat rock martin badger otter

CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT

The inclusion of alpine meadows and mountain crags, which also cover
the territories of free-ranging larger animals, is a major reason for
extension of the World Heritage site. The duties of the Park
administration under the ten-year Management Plan approved in 2004
Plan are to promote the protection, good management and maintenance
of wilderness and biodiversity, to promote education and interpretation,
scientific research, recreation, sustainable tourism and the livelihood of
the local people, and to monitor habitats and species
CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT
Specific species
conservation measures
are rarely taken except
for the census of birds
and some large animals
such as the Balkan
chamois. The existing
Management Plan for the
Park adopted in 2004
does not allow for any
further expansion or
building of new ski slopes
in the park.